NA speaker orders immediate release of PTI parliamentarians

Islamabad: National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq Tuesday reprimanded the Islamabad Inspector General (IG) of Police Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, demanding their immediate release.

"You cannot arrest anyone from the Parliament House or lodges. These parliamentarians should be released immediately," said the speaker.

Sadiq's directive comes in the wake of the arrests of PTI lawmakers followed by a fiery speech delivered by the party's leader Ali Muhammad Khan on the floor of the lower house today.

Sadiq added that he is "very saddened" by this incident and also watched the footage of PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat's arrest.

"What way was it to arrest a parliamentarian?" the speaker questioned IG Rizvi.

The speaker maintained he won't remain silent on arrests of lawmakers and will action. "Whatever happened in the Parliament will have to be protested. I have ordered all the videos," he said, summoning the leadership of all political parties in the chamber.

Sadiq stressed that the matter is to be looked into with seriousness. "I will file a case against those involved in yesterday's incident."

In the next move, the speaker immediately summoned IG Islamabad, DIG operations and senior superintendent of police (SSP) operations.